o early." Kriemhild, in dread of the omen, desired to avert it by
remaining unwed, a course from which her mother attempted to dissuade
her, telling her that if ever she were destined to know heartfelt joy it
would be from a husband's love.

Siegfried

Siegfried, of the Netherlands, son of Siegmund and Sieglind, a warrior
bold as he was young and comely, having heard of the great beauty
of Kriemhild, desired to visit Worms that he might see the far-famed
princess for himself. Until this time he had been wandering through
the world doing great deeds: he had won the sword and treasure of the
Nibelungs, had overcome their monarchs, had conquered a dwarf Alberich,
gaining possession of his cloak of darkness. Hagen, a mighty Burgundian
paladin (in a passage which is obviously adapted from another version
for the purpose of recounting Siegfried's previous adventures), tells
how "he had slain a dragon and made himself invulnerable by bathing
in its blood. We must receive him graciously, and avoid making him our
enemy." Siegfried sojourned at Worms for over a year, distinguishing
himself in all the martial exercises of the Burgundians and rendering
them splendid service in their wars against the Saxons and Danes. A year
passed without his having been allowed to meet Kriemhild, who in secret
cherished the utmost admiration for him. Chagrined at the treatment
meted out to him, he finally made up his mind to depart. But his hosts
did not desire to lose such a valuable ally, and brought about a meeting
between him and the lady of his dreams. The passage describing their
first sight of one another is full of the essence of romance.

We are told that Kriemhild appeared before his eyes as does the rosy
flush of dawn breaking from sombre clouds. As he beheld her his heart
was soothed and all his trouble vanished, for there stood she who had
cost him many a love-pang, her eyes sparkling with pleasure, brighter
than the rich jewels which covered her raiment, her cheeks suffused with
the blushes of maidenhood. No one had, he thought, ever seen so much
beauty before. As the silver moon obscures the light of the stars by its
superior splendour, so did Kriemhild obscure the beauty of the ladies
who surrounded her. When he beheld her each hero drew himself up more
proudly than ever and appeared as if ready to do battle for such a
paragon of beauty. She was preceded by chamberlains in rich attire,
but no ushers might keep back the knights fr